Does the moon affect ocean currents and waves as well as tides?
The moon has a significant impact on tides, due to the gravitational attraction of the moon on the Earth s water. This effect is magnified when the moon s gravitational attraction aligns with the gravitational pull of the sun. This produces the highest high tides and lowest low tides, known as spring tides. When the pull of the moon and the sun are perpendicular to each other, the lowest high tides and highest low tides, collectively termed neap tides, are produced. While ocean currents are primarily affected by winds and the Coriolis force, tides can have a large impact on currents near the coasts. Read an FAQ about oceans, tides and waves on this USA TODAY resource page.
